Circuit maker and breaker.



PATEN'TED JULY 30, 1907.

I. WILKINSON. CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1907.

WITNESSES:

(/AMK UNITED ST ATES PATENT OFFICE;

JOHN WILmNsoN, or SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, assreNon TO an. FRANKLIN MA U- FAGTURING GOMPANYQOF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A oosPoRArroN or New YORK.

CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July-30, 1907.

Application filed April 15, 1907. Serial lla- 368,167.

and Breaker, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object the production of a circuit maker and breaker applicable to internalcombustion engines, which is particularly simple in construction and highly efiicient and durable'in use; and to this end it consists in the combinations and constructions hereinafter setforth and claimed. 7

In describing this invention, referenceis had-to the accompanying drawing in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a face view of this circuit maker and breaker, parts thereof being removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line AA, Fig. 1.

This circuit maker and breaker comprises fixed and rotatable elements, one having a substantially continuous hardened metallic path for coacting, with the other. The fixed element is usually arranged concentric with the cam-shaft 1 of an internal-combustion engine, and comprises a support 2, a ringshaped part 3, contact-pieces 4, and metallic bearingmembers 5. As best seen in Fig. 2-, the support 2 consists of a metal sleeve havin one end provided with an annular bearing surface 6, and with "a pe; ripheral flange 7 projecting from the surface 6. The support 2 is suitably mounted upon a bushing 8 which forms a bearing for the cam-shaft 1 and is fixed to the frame 9 of the internal-combustion engine. Said support 2 is normally fixed from movement about the axis of the cam-shaft 1, but said support and the bushing S are suitably connected for permitting the support to move relatively to the bushing a limited distance when it is desired to delay the ignitions.

, The movement of the support 2 relatively to the 1 bushing 8 may be effected by any desirable means,

not illustrated, connected to an arm 10 projecting from material, and is arranged concentric with the shaft 1.-

One endof the ring-shaped part 3 preferably encircles,

- and fits, the annular surface 6 of the support 2, and is suitably secured to the flange 7. an insulating ring 11 being interposed between said ring-shaped part-3 and flange 7. The ring-shaped part 3 is formed with a recess 12 which opens through the inner face, and

faces of themetallie contact-pieces and the outer end, of said part3, and hasan annular lateral extension 13 formed by a groove in the end wall of the recess 12.

As best seen in Fig. 1', the contact-pieces 4 are detachably seated in a circular series on the inner face of the recess 12, are preferably equidistant from each other, and are provided with suitable binding-screws 14. Said contact pieces are held in place by screws 15 arranged at one side of the insulating ring 11 and extending. through the end wall of the recess 12 and the contact-pieces. As best seen in Fig. 2, the contactpieces 4 are formed with ribs 17 which enter the-lateral extension 13 of the recess 12 and facilitate the effective support of said contact-pieces. I

The bearing-members 5 are detachably seated on the inner face of the recess '12 and substantially fill the spaces between the contact-pieces 1, the wearing faces of said members 5 and pieces 4 being disposed in substantially the same curved line, and each bearingmember being of a length slightly less than the distance. between two of the contact-pieces, so that a small space intervenes between opposing surfaces of the contactinsulating ring 11 and the flange 7, and their other ends projecting beyond the outer faces of said bearingmembers. "in practice, I construct the contact-pieces -and hearing-members by first forming a ring of hardened metal conforming to the recess 12, and its lateral extension 13, and then dividing this ring into segments.

The rotatable element of my circuit maker and breaker preferably comprises an arm 20 suitably mounted on the cam-shaftl and carrying a contact-pieceZl,

here shown as a rollerjournaled in one end of a lever 22 which is pivoted intermediate of its ends to the arm 20, and is connected to one extremity of a spring 23 having its other extremity secured to the hub of the arm 20. It'wili be understood, however, that the contact-piece oi the rotatable element may be carried directly on the arm 20 instead of on a lever pivoted thereto.

This circuit maker and breaker is preferably provided 7 with a cover 24 which is formed with) openings for receiving the projecting ends of the screws 19, and is held in .place by nuts, or other clamping members 25, mounted.

tinuous hardened metallic path consisting of the inner 1 stantially continuous metallic path, and the other element bers, and that since these contact-pieces and bearingmembers are segments of the same ring, the wear upon all parts of such metallic path is substantially uniform, and the efliciency and durability of the circuit maker and breaker is materially enhanced.

What I claim is 1. In a circuit maker and breaker, fixed and rotatable elements. one element comprising a ring-shaped part of insulating material, contact-pieces detachably seated in a circular series on an inner face of the ring-shaped part, and .spaced apart. and metallic bearing-members detachably seated on said inner face between the contact-pieces and substantially filling the spaces between said contactpieces, the wearing faces of the contact-pieces and bearingm'embcrs being disposed in substantially the same curved line and forming a substantially continuous hardened metallic path, and the other element-having means coacting with the wearing faces of said contact-pieces and bearingniembers. substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a circuit maker and breaker, fixed and rotatable elements. one element comprising a ringshaped part of insulating material formed with a recess opening through its inner face, contact-pieces dctachahly arranged in a circular series in the recess, and spaced apart, and metallic bearing-members detachably arranged in the recess between the contact-pieces and substantially filling the spaces between said contact-pieces, the wearing faces of the contact-pieces and bearingmembers being disposed in substantially the same curved line and forming a substantially continuous hardened metallic path, and the other element having means coacting with the wearing faces of said contact-pieces and bearing-members, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a circuit maker and breaker, fixed and rotatable elements, one element comprising a ring-shaped part of insulating material formed with a recess opening through its inner face and having an annular lateral extension,

contactpieces detachably arranged in a circular series inthe recess, and spaced apart, metallic bearing-members de-- tachably arranged in the recess between the contact-pieces and substantially filling the spaces between'said contactpieees, the wearing faces of the contact-pieces and bearingmembers' being disposed in substantially the same curved line and forming a substantially continuous metallic path, and ribs provided on the contact'pieces and bearing-members and-projecting into the lateral extension of the recess, and the other element having means coacting with the wearing faces of said contact-pieces and bearing-members, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a circuit maker and breaker, fixed and rotatable elements, one element comprising a ring-shapedpart of insulating material formed with a recess opening through its inner face, contact-pieces detachably arranged in a circular series in the recess, and spaced apart, screws projecting from an end wall of the recess and coacting with the contact-pieces for securing said contact-pieces in position, and metallic bearing-members detachably arranged in the recess between the contact-pieces and substantially filling the spaces between said contacopieces, the wearing faces of the contact-pieces and bearing-members being dis posed in substantially the same curved line and forming a slibstantially continuous metallic path, and the other element having means coacting with the wearing faces of said contact-pieces and bearingmembers, substantially as and.

for the purpose described.

In a circuit maker and breaker, fixed and rotatable clements,'one element comprising a metallic support provided with an annular bearing surface and a peripheral "flange, a ring-shapedpart of insulating material having one end encircling the bearing surface, means for securing the ringshaped part to said peripheral flange, contactpieces detachably arranged in a circular series on an inner face of the ring-shaped part, and spaced apart, and metal' lie bearing-members detachably arranged on said inner face between the contact-pieces and substantially filling the spaces between said contact-pieces, the wearing faces of the contact-pieces and bearing-members being disposedin substantially the same curved line and forming a subhaving means coacting with the wearing faces of said con= tact-pieces and bearingmembers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a circuit maker and breaker, fixed and rotatable elements, one element comprising a metallic support provided with aperipheral flange, a ring-shaped part of insulating material formed with a recess opening through its inner face, an insulating ring between the ,peripheral flange and the ring-shaped part. means for securing the ringshaped part to said peripheral flange, contact pieces detachably arranged in a circular series in the recess, and spaced apart, screws arranged at one side of the insulating ring, and passed through an end wall of the recess and c0- acting with the contact-pieces for securing said contactpieces in position. and metallic bearing-members detachably arranged in the recess between the contact-pieces and substantially filling the spaces between said contact-pieces,

the wearing faces of the contact-pieces and bearing-mem-' bers being disposed in substantially the same curved line and forming a substantially continuous metallic path, and the other element having means coacting with the wearing faces of said contact-pieces and bearing-members, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

T. In a circuit maker and breaker, fixed and rotatable elements, one element comprising a ring-shaped part of insulating aterial formed with a recess opening through its inner face, contact-pieces detachably arranged in a circular series in the recess, and spaced apart, metallic bearingmembcrs detachably arranged in the recess between the contact-pieces.and substantially filling-the spaces between said c0ntact-pieces, the wearingfaces of the contact-pieces and bearingmembers being disposed in substantially the same curved line and forming a substantially continuous metallic path, and screws projecting from an end wall of the recess and coacting with the bearing-members for securing said bearing-membe s in position, and the other element having means for coacting with the wearing faces of said contact-pieces and bearing-members, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a circuit maker and breaker, fixed and rotatable elements, one element comprising a ring-shaped part of insulating material formed with a recess opening th roiigh its inner face, contact-pieces detachably arranged in a circular series intherecess, and spaced apart, metallic bearingmenrbers detachably arranged in the recess between the contact-pieces and substantially filling the spaces between said contact-pieces, the wearing faces of the contact-pieces and bearing-members being disposed in substantially the same curved line and forming a substantially continuous metallic path, screws projecting from an end wall of the" recess and coacting with the bearing-members for securing said bearing-members in position, said screws projecting beyond the bearing-members, and a cover detachably mounted on the projecting ends of the screws, and the other element having means coacting with the wearing faces of said contact-pieces and bearing-members, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In a circuit maker and breaker, flxed,and rotatable elements, one element comprising a metallic support pro- -vided with a peripheral flange, a ring-shaped part of insulating material formed with a recess opening through its inner face,'contact-pieces detachably arranged in a circular series in the recess, and spaced apart, and metallic bearingmembers detachably arranged in the recess between the contact-pieces and substantially filling the spaces between said contact-pieces,.the wearing faces of the contact-pieces and bearing-members being disposed in substantially the same curved line and forming a substantially continuous metallic path, and screws projecting from the peripheral flange and through an end wall of the recess and coacting with thebearingme'mbers for securing the ring-shaped part to said peripheral flange, and for securing said bear ing-members in position, and the other elementhaving means coacting with the wearing faces of said contactpieces and bearing-members, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

10. In a circuit maker and breaker, fixed and rotatable elements, one element comprising a metallic support provided with an annular bearing surface and a peripheral flange, a ring-shaped part of insulating material having cular se2.o41

one end encircling the bearing surface, said part being formed with, a recess opening through its inner face, an insulatlng ring between the peripheral flange and the ringslniped part,contact-picces detachably arranged in a cirseries in the recess, and spaced apart, screws'ar ranged at one side of the insulating ring and passed through an end wall of the recess and coacting with the contact-picces for securing said contacbpicces in'position,

metallic bearing-members detachably arranged in therecess between the contact-pieces and substantially fillingthe spaces between said contact-pieces, the wearing faces of the contact-pieces and hearing-members being disposed in substantially the same curved line and forming a sub stantially continuous metallic path, screws projecting from the peripheral flange through the insulating ring and an end wall of the recess and coacting with the hearing members for securing the ring-shaped part to said periphcral flange, and for securing said bearing-members in pos I; tion, and the other element having means coacting with the wearing faces of said contact-pieces and bearing-mem-'-' hers, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. In a circuit maker and breaker, fixed and rotatable elements, one element comprising a metallic support provided with an annular bearing surface and a peripheralflange, a ring-shaped part of insulating material having? one end encircling the bearing surface, said part being-I formed with a recess opening through its inner face, an'- insulating ring between the peripheral flange and the ring--- shaped r l, contact-pieces dctnchahly arranged in a circular series in the recess, and spaced apart. screws or ranged at one side of the insulating ring .and passed through an end wall of the recess and conrliihgwith the contnct-picces for securing said conizlct-picccs in position, metallic bearing-members dctachalily arranged in the recess between the contact-pieces and substantially filling the spaces between said contact-pieces, the wearing faces of the contact-pieces and bearing-members bcin idisposcd in substantially the same curved line and forming a subst' ntially continuous mctallic path, screws projecting from the peripheral flange through the insulating ring and an end wall of the recess and coacting with the bearing members for securing the ring-shaped part to said peripheral flange,

and for securing said hearing-members in position, said screws projectingbeyond the bearin members, and a cover detachably mounted on the projecting ends of the last-mentioned screws, and the other element having means coacting with the wearing faces of said contact-pieces and hearing-members, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in

the county of Onondaga, in the State 01 New York, this 13th day of April, 1907.

JOIIN WILKINSON.- Witncsses:

S. DAVIS,

R. Anonson'. 

